RunConvert

DVR to FLV Converter

Convert DVR to FLV online for free. Fast, secure, and high-quality conversion with no sign-up or software required.

Free to useNo file stored beyond 1 hourEncrypted over TLS 1.2/1.3No watermarks

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How it works

Three steps to your converted file

Everything happens in your browser tab - upload, pick a format, download. The heavy lifting runs on our servers.

01

Upload your file

Drag and drop, click to browse, or paste a URL. Batches take up to 20 files at once - 230+ input formats across video, audio, image, document, and archive types.

02

Choose an output format

Pick from over a hundred output formats. Filter by category or search by name - every option is open to everyone, no account needed.

03

Convert & download

Hit Convert and grab your download link moments later. Originals are erased when the job completes; results are cleared within about an hour.

What is a DVR file?

The DVR file extension typically denotes a proprietary video container created by consumer Digital Video Recorders (PVRs), CCTV security systems, or satellite receivers (e.g., Dish Network). These files often encapsulate an MPEG-2 Transport Stream (TS) or H.264 video stream, but they are frequently wrapped with proprietary encryption, metadata headers, or non-standard indexing to prevent unauthorized playback or export. Unlike the Microsoft-specific .dvr-ms format, a generic .dvr file strictly strictly adheres to the vendor-specific implementation of the recording hardware.

How to open a DVR file

Due to proprietary encryption and lack of standardization, .dvr files rarely open natively on Windows or macOS. Playback usually requires the specific proprietary software provided by the hardware manufacturer (e.g., the security camera vendor's viewing client). In some cases where the file is an unencrypted Transport Stream, VLC Media Player or PotPlayer may be able to force playback by treating the file as a raw MPEG stream.

DVR Technical Info

Full Name
Digital Video Recorder File
Developed By
Various (Proprietary OEMs)
Initial Release
Varies
MIME Type
application/octet-stream

What is an FLV file?

The FLV (Flash Video) format is a container file format defined by Adobe Systems for delivering synchronized audio and video over the internet via the Adobe Flash Player. It supports various codecs, historically Sorenson Spark and VP6, and later H.264 (MPEG-4 AVC) and AAC audio. FLV files were the dominant standard for web-based streaming video (YouTube, Hulu) during the 2000s, utilizing the RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) for transmission before being superseded by HTML5 standards.

How to open an FLV file

Since the End-of-Life (EOL) of Adobe Flash Player in 2020, browsers no longer support FLV natively. To play local FLV files, users must utilize third-party media players that maintain legacy codec support, such as VLC Media Player, MPC-HC, or MPV. For editing or conversion, tools like OBS Studio and HandBrake utilize the FFmpeg library to decode and process the container.

FLV Technical Info

Full Name
Flash Video
Developed By
Adobe Systems
Initial Release
2002
MIME Type
video/x-flv

Why RunConvert

The fastest way to convert any file

Purpose-built for speed, privacy, and breadth of format support.

Convert DVR to FLV in seconds

Every DVR to FLV conversion runs on our servers, so your device stays fast and the output quality stays intact.

Fast, cloud-powered

No queue, no waiting. Files are processed on high-performance servers and returned in seconds, even for large files.

Secure & private

Encrypted in transit and never shared with anyone. Uploads are erased the moment your job completes, and results shortly after.

Free - no account needed

Convert without creating an account - no credit card, no trial clock. Sign in only if you want history and higher daily limits.

Developer API

Convert DVR to FLV via API

Automate DVR to FLV conversions in three steps: create a job, upload your file, then poll for the result.

# 1. Create job
curl -X POST https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "tag": "dvr-to-flv",
    "tasks": {
      "upload-file": {
        "operation": "import/upload"
      },
      "convert": {
        "operation": "convert",
        "input": "upload-file",
        "output_format": "flv"
      },
      "export-result": {
        "operation": "export/url",
        "input": "convert"
      }
    }
  }'

# 2. Upload your file (use upload_url from the response)
curl -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" --upload-file input.dvr

# 3. Poll for result
curl https://api.runconvert.com/v3/jobs/$JOB_ID?include=tasks \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your RunConvert API key. Get your free API key at runconvert.com/api.